📖 ABSTRACT/OVERVIEW
Dermatophytosis, including tinea corporis, represents a common dermatological condition in the densely populated urban and peri-urban areas of Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. Allium sativum (garlic) has long been employed in traditional medicine for the treatment of fungal skin infections, yet rigorous antimycotic evaluations in the Nigerian context remain sparse. This study assesses the antifungal activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Allium sativum bulbs against dermatophyte isolates from confirmed tinea corporis patients attending Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna. Fungal isolates were identified by macroscopic and microscopic morphology alongside standard culture procedures. Antifungal susceptibility was determined by agar diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Phytochemical screening detected allicin precursors, sulphur-containing compounds, flavonoids, and saponins. The ethanolic extract demonstrated dose-dependent antifungal activity against Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum canis, the predominant isolates. MIC values of 3.125 and 6.25 mg/mL were recorded for the most susceptible species. The aqueous extract showed moderate activity at higher concentrations. These findings support the pharmacological basis for topical garlic applications in managing superficial fungal infections and recommend further formulation studies for standardised dermatological products. Keywords: Allium sativum, antifungal, dermatophytes, tinea corporis, Kaduna State
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